Child Soldier: Victim of Armed Conflict
Recruitment of children as soldiers is a disturbing trend and it is on increase in many parts of the world. Many children under 15 years of age are made to serve in armed forces which is a blatant violation of human rights law and also, international humanitarian law . Children are used in war zones because they have certain advantages over other soldiers such as, it is easier to intimidate them or to make them do as they have been instructed, unlike adults it is less likely that they will run away and they do not demand salary. Many of them are forced to join the army or are brainwashed and some of them join the army on their own because for them it is the only way to survive in the war driven zone. In countries like Liberia, Cambodia, etc children join the army to secure food and protection as those with guns can only survive. Recruitment by ISIL was reported in the Anbar and Ninewa governorates, and child soldiers were portrayed in social media, including as executioners. These c...